Page 44 of Enzo

It feels like the contents of my stomach just plummeted to my ankles.

“What?”

“Check the links I sent you.”

Another text pops in from Dexter.

“This you, bro?”

He’s forwarded me a link.

I click it.

My heart flips inside my chest.

It’s me.

Wearing my mask, at the ball. Standing in front of a painting.

THE SADDEST MAN IN VENICE

MYSTERIOUS MAN

I scroll frantically. My heart thundering, the sound of blood pounding in my ears.

It can’t be.

I stare in dismay at the same few clips that seem to be everywhere, cut and edited in different ways, captioned and turned into memes. Thousands of people are watching them, commenting on me, trying to work out who I am.

I want to disappear.

Molly took these clips.

She told me they were for her headmistress.

Was that a lie?

I click another one. Same footage. Different edit.

At least I’m masked. Maybe people won’t realize it’s me.

I made a mistake. I let my guard down. I let Venice and the magic and madness of last night get to me.

I should have known better.

I pace the room, my stomach hollow, panic gripping my throat so hard I struggle to swallow.

This is my worst nightmare.

I’ve been a fool.

I told her my name.

I took off my mask.

I trusted her.

Chapter 10